Members of the University of Birmingham’s new Brazil Institute marked its launch with a four-city tour to strengthen the University’s research and education partnerships across Brazil.
Led by Professor Robin Mason ORB, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), researchers travelled to Brazil to meet key partners in Belém, Brasilia, Campinas, and São Paulo. The group included experts in energy, primary healthcare and public health, international security, cognitive neuroscience, ageing, cancer, sociology, water engineering, and global forest ecology.
Birmingham forestry and climate science experts met with counterparts at the Federal University of Pará, in Belem – the city which will host the COP30 global environment conference in November 2025. Health experts met counterparts at the Federal University of Amazonas to discuss ways of building existing Birmingham-Brazil healthcare partnerships.
The full group reunited in Brasilia to meet Vice Minister Marcia Barbosa – Minister with Science and Technology. They met leaders from Brazilian federal funding agency for graduate education CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior). The group also met Stephanie Al-Qaq, UK Ambassador to Brazil – an alumna of the University of Birmingham.
Birmingham academics and support staff also took part in a full-day workshop in São Paulo to celebrate the University’s long-standing collaboration with Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).
Professor Mason also signed a seed funding agreement with Professor Sergio Percival Baroncini Proença, Provost for International Co-operation at the University of São Paulo (USP). The two universities’ agreement will kick-start future joint research projects.
Professor Mason is speaking at the FAUBAI 2024 conference, in São Paulo: largest and oldest event in Latin America dedicated to the internationalization of higher education.
We are in Brazil to underscore the long-standing commitment that the University of Birmingham has with our partners here - enhancing our engagement with Brazil and strengthening Brazil-UK cooperation in research and education.
Professor Robin Mason ORB, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) - University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham Brazil Institute recently celebrated its official opening in the UK in the presence of His Excellency Mr Antonio Patriota, Brazil Ambassador to the UK. The new Institute aims to deepen and widen the University’s engagement with Brazil, as well as strengthening the UK/Brazil partnership.
Professor Robin Mason ORB commented: “We are in Brazil to underscore the long-standing commitment that the University of Birmingham has with our partners here - enhancing our engagement with Brazil and strengthening Brazil-UK cooperation in research and education.
“We have enjoyed seeing our existing partners and friends, as well as forging new relationships across the four cities that will undoubtedly help us to play our part in strengthening Britain’s academic ties to Brazil by further developing relationships that help to build collaboration between our two countries.”
The new Institute follows the signing of an agreement last year between the University of Birmingham and the Brazilian Ministry of Education. The protocol of intent set out a shared commitment to collaborate more closely through a Brazil Institute at the University. Brazil’s Minister of Education, Camilo Santana and Professor Mason signed the protocol of intent for the Institute in May 2023.
It is a great pleasure for me to witness this important rapprochement between the University of Birmingham, which was fundamental to my education, and Brazil, the country where I serve and which I admire so much. I hope to see many successful partnerships in the development of scientific knowledge as a result.
Stephanie Al-Qaq, UK Ambassador to Brazil
Ambassador Al-Qaq commented: "It is a great pleasure for me to witness this important rapprochement between the University of Birmingham, which was fundamental to my education, and Brazil, the country where I serve and which I admire so much. I hope to see many successful partnerships in the development of scientific knowledge as a result.”
In the same month, the Brazilian Ambassador also decorated Professor Mason with the Order of Rio Branco (Officer Class) for championing academic co-operation between Brazil and the UK at an investiture ceremony at the Embassy of Brazil in London. The accolade is a mark of Professor Mason’s individual contribution, and of the University of Birmingham’s long-standing commitment to engagement with Brazil.
The Brazil Institute will host the long-standing Birmingham Brazil Visiting Fellows scheme, through which over 100 Brazilian academics have come to the University; and its joint funding programme with FAPESP. Working with key agencies like the CAPES, the Institute will support new opportunities to deepen collaboration.
The Institute is also co-ordinating Chico Mendes Chair Programme, in partnership with CAPES. Named after Brazilian land rights leader and environmentalist Chico Mendes (1944-1988), the five-year programme brings 15 Brazilian academics to Birmingham to build research partnerships across Environmental Sciences, Climate Change, Ecosystems, Sustainability, and Societies and Environment.
Speaking at the launch of the Brazil Institute, His Excellency Mr Antonio Patriota, Brazil Ambassador to the UK, said: “Brazil is back with a renewed commitment to advance democracy, sustainability, and peace. The Brazil Institute at the University of Birmingham will be an important partner to translate common goals into a fruitful academic cooperation.”
